Leave Yesterday Behind by: Lauren Linwood Interview & Excerpt

About the Book:

Title: Leave Yesterday Behind
Author: Lauren Linwood
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Pages: 244
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: Kindle

Callie Chennault vaulted to fame on the nighttime soap Sumner Falls, but after a decade of playing the same role, she is ready for a new acting challenge. When Callie is attacked by a stalker on the streets of New York, she takes a leave of absence from the show and returns to her roots in Aurora, Louisiana, to heal both physically and emotionally and determine her next career move.

Former professional baseball pitcher Nick La Chappelle has also come to Aurora to lick his own wounds after a messy divorce. A Cy Young winner and one-time ESPN broadcaster, Nick longs for the quiet of a small town in order to write murder mysteries under a pen name.

Sparks fly when Callie believes Nick is taking advantage of her great-aunt’s hospitality, but they resolve their differences—and surprise themselves by falling in love. Their bond is tested when both Nick and Callie become the focus of a serial killer nicknamed Lipstick Larry. Can they outwit a murderer bent on seeing them dead and survive to build a lasting relationship?

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For More Information

• Leave Yesterday Behind is available at Amazon.
• Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

Book Excerpt:

Maybe she should take a cab home. But her subway station was only a block and half away. It would be foolish to stand out in a downpour after nine at night when she could duck in and be on her way downtown in a couple of minutes. Callie liked that people left her alone on the subway. A few sometimes stared at her and frowned, wondering if they’d ever seen her before. Most turned away, not quite able to place her.

After all, she left Jessica behind at the studio every day. No chic clothes, Ravenous Red mouth, or fancy hairstyle. She didn’t often get recognized in real life unless it was a die-hard fan. Even then, most New Yorkers were cool about it and simply ignored her.

Chill out. Just move.

“Jessica?”

She turned automatically and saw a man standing behind her. He was probably the reason she’d had the feeling of being followed. He seemed a little out of breath, as if he’d been keeping up with her awhile. It had happened before. She knew it would happen again.

And always with this type.

He was non-descript in every way—average height and build, brown hair, glasses. Harmless looking. Dopey grin on his face, like he’d hit the lottery because he’d actually had the balls to speak to the crush of his daydreams. She knew enough to be firm. Give him a brief little personal moment, a smile and her signature on something, and get back to her life.

Then a quick flash of John Lennon signing an autograph for Mark David Chapman zipped through her brain. He’d been average, too.

And he’d killed Lennon hours after someone snapped a photograph of them together.

“You don’t look like Jessica up close.” His voice was silky, almost caressing, yet the tone was definitely disappointed.

Her pulse quickened. She took a step back to put a little distance between them and brushed against a brick wall.

“I like to give my skin a rest away from the studio. All that heavy make-up and hairspray can cause a girl some damage.” She kept her tone calm and friendly as she glanced over the man’s shoulder.

No one was in sight.

“I want to see Jessica. She’s my favorite.”

He pulled something from his pocket and held it up. “Put this on. It’ll help. It’s the perfect shade.” He smiled shyly. “I’ll even let you do it. You’re the expert.” He reached out and grabbed her wrist and laid the item in her hand before letting go.

Chills ran through her as she opened her palm. In it lay a gold tube of Jessica’s signature Ravenous Red.

A knife appeared, clutched in the stranger’s left hand. Callie’s heart beat erratically. Her words died in her throat.

“Don’t worry,” he said softly. “You know how to be Jessica whenever you want.”

Her palms grew damp. The lipstick he’d given her almost slipped from her hand.

“Jessica likes to be seen wearing this color. Put it on. Now.” His voice was quiet, but the underlying threat hung in the air all the same.

Callie brought a shaking hand to her mouth and realized the lid was still on. She removed it and twisted a few turns before she lifted the lipstick close again.

Oh, God, she was so nervous. She stroked color onto her upper lip and then across the bottom. Her hand slipped, though, and a searing red line jutted across her lower cheek.

“You made a mistake. Wipe it off. Do it again. It has to be perfect.” The tone was deadly.

“I’ll need some cold cream. Red stains pretty badly.” She gulped air, trying to calm herself. She couldn’t let this guy see how rattled she was. “And I know you want this to be perfect. So do I.”

“I can fix it.”

She watched him pull a tissue from his jacket pocket. He gave it a lick and then stroked it down her cheek to her jaw several times.

“That’s better,” he said, dreamily smiling as he inspected his work. “Now try again.”

Her eyes met his, and Callie prayed her hands would stop shaking enough for her to get it right.

About the Author

As a child, Lauren Linwood gathered her neighborhood friends together and made up stories for them to act out, her first venture into creating memorable characters. Following her passion for history and love of learning, she became a teacher who began writing on the side to maintain her sanity in a sea of teenage hormones.

Lauren’s historical novels focus on two of her favorite eras—medieval times and the American Old West. History is the backdrop that places her characters in extraordinary circumstances, where their intense desire and yearning for one another grows into the treasured gift of love. She also writes romantic suspense, where modern heroes and heroines unite to defeat a strong antagonist and discover a deep, abiding love during their journey.

Lauren, a native Texan, lives in a Dallas suburb with her family. An avid reader, moviegoer, and sports fan, she manages stress by alternating yoga with five mile walks. She is thinking about starting a support group for House Hunters addicts—as soon as she finishes her next piece of dark chocolate.

Her recent book is the romantic suspense, Leave Yesterday Behind.

Interview:

Where are you from?

I’m a rare breed—a native Dallasite who’s lived in Dallas or a nearby suburb my entire life. Nowadays, most everyone who calls Dallas home moved here from somewhere north of the Red River.

Tell us your latest news?

I’m excited that I’ve debuted a new author website. With so many people relying on their smart phones, I needed to update my site so it was mobile-friendly. It has an entire new look and color scheme and is way cool!

When and why did you begin writing?

My mom jokes that I came out of the womb, scribbling away. I always wrote down stories when I was young. Then I became interested in journalism and was the editor of my junior high and high school newspapers. I switched gears in college and majored in history and education, but I always had that burning desire to write a novel. I finally gave myself the gift of time and sat down and followed Nike’s advice—Just Do It.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve always believed in my heart and soul that I am a writer. I wrote in a journal. Then short stories and poems. Finally, novels came. Anyone can be a writer, but most people confuse the term “writer” with “published author.”

What inspired you to write your first book?

I have a fascination for the medieval era. I toyed with various ideas for a storyline and then hit upon one. I asked myself, “Why do we only hear about men being troubadours and traveling about, singing their songs, entertaining everyone from kings to people attending faires?”

I decided that I would write a heroine who was the only woman troubadour in all of England, and the plot snowballed from there.

Do you have a specific writing style?

My voice depends upon what genre I’m working in. My medieval historical voice is more lyrical. My western historical voice shows glimpses of my Texas roots. My romantic suspense voice is more staccato, with shorter sentences throughout.

How did you come up with the title?

My hero Nick has moved on from a bad marriage and his career as a professional baseball pitcher and broadcaster. He’s following his dream of being a mystery writer and is starting to see success. My heroine Callie is ready to walk away from the TV role that made her famous after she’s attacked by a stalker. She wants to try new acting challenges. I felt that Leave Yesterday Behind was what both characters were doing. They want to focus on their future—and it’s made even richer when they find one another.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I think every romance novel lets its readers know that love with the right person can change your world and give you the strength and encouragement to be your best “you.”

How much of the book is realistic?

It’s a contemporary romantic suspense, so I believe most of it could occur.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Bits of me slip into play throughout the book. With Nick being a writer as I am, things he voices about writing are what we have in common. Callie can be a little sarcastic at times. That’s definitely me coming out!

What books have most influenced your life most?

My favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird. Not only do I love it as a reader, but as a writer it’s a great book to dissect. The descriptions really allow you to see the world of Maycomb, Alabama. Some characters are flawed but learn how to change. It has a great moral message. It’s full of big moments, and yet some of the sweetest ones are the small, quiet ones. I’d settle for being to imitate any of those things in my books.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Definitely Stephen King. His book On Writing has some of the best advice I’ve heard or read. No matter what genre a writer is working in, its universal advice.

What book are you reading now?

I just finished Johanna Lindsey’s newest western historical romance Wildfire in His Arms and will pick up Brad Meltzer’s latest as soon as I finish this interview!

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

I had a friend recommend Peter Swanson’s The Kind Worth Killing. It’s an interesting murder mystery with some unusual twists that I didn’t see coming. I’ve never read anything by him before, but I definitely will now.

What are your current projects?

I’m really busy these days. I’ve completed edits for my November medieval historical, A Knight for Kallen. I’m about to start edits on my March 2016 romantic suspense Illusions of Death. I’ve written a new western historical and have just put the finishing touches on another romantic suspense. I’ll be pitching both to my editor soon. Right now, I’ve started another medieval that takes place in the 14^th century. So yes, I’m juggling lots of balls.

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members?

That would be my critique partners, Aven Ellis and Lynn McKade. We’ve been through thick and thin together, and they read everything I write and toss in their two cents. If it’s got the CP approval, then I know it’s ready to be sent to my editor.

What would you like my readers to know?

That I’d love to hear from them! You can email me. Follow me on FB or Twitter. I love to visit, via social media. It’s made it fun and easy for writers to interact with their readers.

For More Information

• Visit Lauren Linwood’s website.
• Connect with Lauren  on Facebook and Twitter.
• Find out more about Lauren at Goodreads.
• Visit Lauren’s blog.
• More books by Lauren Linwood.
• Contact Lauren.